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books_o_mine's review against another edition
2.0
finally finished [b:The Witchwood Crown|31185918|The Witchwood Crown (The Last King of Osten Ard, #1)|Tad Williams|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1487523588s/31185918.jpg|41114872] by [a:Tad Williams|6587|Tad Williams|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1191183065p2/6587.jpg]. It was ok; I mostly remember the things I did not like about it: it was a slog and a lot of secrets were revealed all in a rush and not in a good way (there was basically no excitement in these reveals).
It has things I hate in books: bad dreams to "show" that the character (sometimes a minor, side character) is feeling bad, and full text of songs that add nothing to the book. Also, poems or similar things at the beginning of chapters that seem to have no actual connection to the writing; maybe they did, but they weren't interesting enough for me to remember them as I read.
It has things I hate in books: bad dreams to "show" that the character (sometimes a minor, side character) is feeling bad, and full text of songs that add nothing to the book. Also, poems or similar things at the beginning of chapters that seem to have no actual connection to the writing; maybe they did, but they weren't interesting enough for me to remember them as I read.
lpickett47's review against another edition
4.0
Great book, though it is definitely slow. This should come as no surprising to those who read the original trilogy, but it was much slower than the Dragonbone Chair was. But the cliffhangers were done incredibly well and made me want to pick up the next book instantly after finishing it. The slowness worked to build up for a (hopefully) epic battle to come and I'm excited to read about it.
Very highly recommend.
Very highly recommend.
ted_funsten's review against another edition
4.0
There's a lot of setup of characters and situations. It dragged a little in places but was still fun. The end clarified who some of the characters are, and set up questions for the next books.
melmmh's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not as eloquent as others when writing reviews - but this book was absolutely amazing.
I read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn last year.
While I deeply enjoyed it, it did feel like it dragged a bit in some parts. Maybe it was the establishment of the phenomenonal and broad world building, setting the story up, etc.
One of my favorite parts was how Simon starts off on his adventure, and later on meeting the Sithi, etc. The story was emotional and warm, and it kept me interested all the way through.
Having said all that - this book was FABULOUS.
I could not put it down. The return to so many characters I love and (feel like) I know well, plus the way the story jumps ahead... I literally can't say how much I enjoyed it. It felt much easier to get into, and the story took off right away. I even like all the different view points, considering I often find that irritating, but it works so well here.
Anyway, all this to say, Tad Williams has (once again) renewed my faith and interest in high fantasy. I'm currently reading Empire of Grass and it's every bit as good so far.
I read Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn last year.
While I deeply enjoyed it, it did feel like it dragged a bit in some parts. Maybe it was the establishment of the phenomenonal and broad world building, setting the story up, etc.
One of my favorite parts was how Simon starts off on his adventure, and later on meeting the Sithi, etc. The story was emotional and warm, and it kept me interested all the way through.
Having said all that - this book was FABULOUS.
I could not put it down. The return to so many characters I love and (feel like) I know well, plus the way the story jumps ahead... I literally can't say how much I enjoyed it. It felt much easier to get into, and the story took off right away. I even like all the different view points, considering I often find that irritating, but it works so well here.
Anyway, all this to say, Tad Williams has (once again) renewed my faith and interest in high fantasy. I'm currently reading Empire of Grass and it's every bit as good so far.
georgiesmusings's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
moofvoll's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Significantly better than Memory, Sorrow and Thorn!
wallace_korp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
qjbrown96's review against another edition
4.0
I originally quit reading this halfway through because it was such a slog but it just kept looking at me from my shelf demanding to be finished. So I figured I’d give it another shot and the very next chapter ramped up the story and I was hooked. Such a great beginning to a new series and in typical Tad fashion it is an extremely slow and character/world building story with a masterful ending with fantastic descriptions of creatures and characters.
You don’t have to read the original trilogy but you’ll vastly appreciate it more if you have since you get most of the original characters back that you love and you’re already familiar with Ostend Ard, one of the best fictional lands to read about. The story follows Simon and Miriamele, still king and queen of Osten Ard but older and have a grandson named Morgan who is heir to the throne. The problem with Morgan is he’s childish, entitled and a bit of a dumbass. Simon is torn between keeping his heir safe or risking his life to make a better man out of him.
Utuk’ku is back like she never left and more powerful than ever and she’s ready to open up a can ‘o’ whoop ass on the human race. There’s also some hints to possibly a certain evil sorcerer that is still alive to claim vengeance over Simon??
You don’t have to read the original trilogy but you’ll vastly appreciate it more if you have since you get most of the original characters back that you love and you’re already familiar with Ostend Ard, one of the best fictional lands to read about. The story follows Simon and Miriamele, still king and queen of Osten Ard but older and have a grandson named Morgan who is heir to the throne. The problem with Morgan is he’s childish, entitled and a bit of a dumbass. Simon is torn between keeping his heir safe or risking his life to make a better man out of him.
Utuk’ku is back like she never left and more powerful than ever and she’s ready to open up a can ‘o’ whoop ass on the human race. There’s also some hints to possibly a certain evil sorcerer that is still alive to claim vengeance over Simon??
dromwald's review against another edition
4.0
First let me say that I am a huge fan of this author's works and I was very much looking forward to a return to the world of Osten Ard. This work almost got 5 stars perhaps as a result but there were a number of times when I struggled to care about characters that had meant a lot to me in the first series of books. No easy task of course to reintroduce the reader to what was a fairly large selection of meaningful characters. What really interested me were the new characters, particularly some of the new Norn figures and, without revealing any spoilers, some other new characters whose potential storylines for future books look really interesting.
It was great to be reintroduced to some of the original characters like Seomon and Miri and the author has handled their development as aging characters very well. I have to say though that I could have cheerfully strangled their spoiled, moody grandson Morgan at birth. I can accept that his characterisation as such a tiresome teenager full of angst and 'stuff' was deliberate and obviously he'll turn out alright in the end but it doesn't make me not want to boot him up his fictional arse any less.
It was still really great to be back in one of my favourite fantasy worlds and I look forward to the next in the series.
It was great to be reintroduced to some of the original characters like Seomon and Miri and the author has handled their development as aging characters very well. I have to say though that I could have cheerfully strangled their spoiled, moody grandson Morgan at birth. I can accept that his characterisation as such a tiresome teenager full of angst and 'stuff' was deliberate and obviously he'll turn out alright in the end but it doesn't make me not want to boot him up his fictional arse any less.
It was still really great to be back in one of my favourite fantasy worlds and I look forward to the next in the series.